For example, if you need $30,000 for a down payment, you could aim to save $5,000 every six months. By breaking it down, the process becomes less overwhelming and more achievable. 2.

Don’t pass up down payment assistance and gifts. Depending on your income, you might be eligible for down payment assistance through your state’s housing finance agency, your bank or a nonprofit.

Affordability challenges and misconceptions about down payments are deterring many potential buyers, according to a new ...

For example, a $25,000 down payment goal over two years requires setting aside approximately $1,042 monthly or about $35 daily. Strategic planning matters Successful down payment saving requires ...

The trick here is to separate your down payment savings from your everyday funds. If you mix them together, ... Here’s a fun challenge: Try tracking your spending for a week or two.

A motherlode of down payment assistance programs is available for California homebuyers. I’ve counted 347 programs, to be exact. And you don’t necessarily have to be a first-time buyer for ...

In 2024, buyers' down payment averaged $29,900, or 14.4% of the purchase price, marking the highest figures since tracking began.

The median U.S. home price in early 2025 is $398,400, with projections reaching $410,700 by end of year. First-time buyers are putting down a median of about 9% -- roughly $35,856. Repeat buyers ...

Key takeaways. Down payments reduce the amount of money you must borrow and, thus, the interest you pay while repaying your car loan. Experts recommend a down payment of at least 20 percent.